Steamer mechanism



Sept. 3, 1940. Q PUNGQR 2 ,213,288

STEAMER MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l MQ BY wfl 11/ ORNEY.

Sept- 1940. c; PUNGOR 4 2,213,288

S TEAMER MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

p 1940. c. PUNGOR Q 2,213,288

STEAMER MECHANISM Original-Filed Jan. 28, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 V IINIVENTOR. W

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 f UNITED STATES PATENT 1 oFFIcE GharlesPungor, Detroit, Mich, I

Refile of abandoned application Serial No. 122,733, January 28, 1937, This application J anuaryl'l', 1938, Serial No. 185,378

7 Claims.

This application is a refiling of application Serial Number 122,733, filed Jan. 28, 1937, which became abandoned for failure to answer within the six.months period.

l to provide a steamer mechanism for efficiently finishing clothin garments, fabrics or similar objects in or after cleaning operations; second, to -provide a steamer mechanism adapted to efficiently remove Wrinkles from clothing, garments,-fabrics or similar objects; third, to provide a mechanism for delivering an equal oreven application of steam to substantially the total area or surface of a garment or similar object; fourth, to provide a steamer mechanism with means for delivering dry or wet steam to a garment or similar object; fifth, to provide a steamer mechanism with means for developing a flow of air through the steamer mechanism to the garment or similar object; sixth, to provide a steamer mechanism with means for holding the garment or similar object on the steamer mechanism in a stretched or taut position; seventh, to provide a steamer mechanism with a plurality of nozzles for directing steam to the garment or similar object; eighth, to provide a steamer mechanism with means for supplying heat for drying a garment or similar object which is undergoing a finishing operation therewith; ninth, to provide a steamer mechanism with a portable nozzle for applying steam to particular portions vide a steamer mechanism with a power driven fan means adapted for ready removal from orv placement in the steamer mechanism;

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the steamer mechanism with a part of its screen means broken away; FigureZ, is a sectional view of the steamer i mechanism taken on the line 2-'2, Fig. 1,

'Figure 3, a partial sectional view of the steamer mechanism taken on the line 3-3, Figure 2, -'Figure 4, a partial sectional view of the steamer mechanism taken on the line 4-4, Figure 2, Figure 5, a side view of one of the clip or hook mechanismsfor'securing on the steamer mechanism;

Figure 6, a plan view of the clip or hook mechanism disclosed in Figure 5,

Figure '7, a plan view incorporating a broken away portion of a steam nozzle utilized in the steamer mechanism and-attached to a hose orconduit connected with the source, of steam supply,and, I

Figure 8 is a partial vertical, section-andside 5 view of the steamer mechanism together with a garment supported tl ierearoiind in the finishing operation, saidgarment being disclosed in sec-, tion. I

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. a 1

The feet or support members I are preferably constructed of hard rubber, fiber, cork or similar composition material having insulating characteristics and are adapted torest on the fioor 2 or similar supportingsurface, each of the feet members I being provided with bossor extension portions 5 adapted to, enter and fit within one' of the sockets or brackets 3 which, together with the bosses 5, are of a size such as to permit the bottom surfaces of the sockets 3 to rest on the upper surface of the feet members adjacent the base of the bosses 5.

The sockets v3 are suitably secured to the ring 4 as by welding at l orsimilar means and are spaced therearound insufficient numbers- 'to support the steamer mechanism as hereinafter disclosed. j

The sockets 3 areconstructed as hollow members from relatively thin'strip or plate material the sockets 3 for retaining the upright or channel members II! which enter and fit within the sockets 3 and rest upon the upper surfaces of thebosses 5 of the feet members I.

The outer Wallsof the sockets 3 are each extended to form the flanges l2 offset sufficiently facilitate-the entrance of the' edge portions of 5 the screen member 4 therein, the screen memberbeing further suitably secured to the channel members l0 'as'zb'y welding or similar means as desired.

The ring: I 6 is mounted at the upper ends of and surrounds the channel members ID in a manner similar to that of the ring 5 and the ring l6, the channel member I6 and the brackets l1 and I8 are secured together by the rivets l9.

The brackets |8 are mounted within the channel members l6 and are oppositely disposed one to another in the base assembly A and are each provided with eye or similar portions 26 for attaching to and supporting the pipes or tubular members 2| and 22.

Also the brackets H are provided in suitable quantities to mount around the outside of the ring I 6 and the base assembly A, eight of the brackets |1 being disclosed, the brackets |1 each being provided with a boss portion 23 through which extends a pin or shaft 24 for pivotally supporting the levers or arms 25. At the inside of one of the channel members I6 is suitably mounted the bracket 26 which is provided with the arms 21 and 28 between which is mounted the condenser assembly 13 which rests on the arm 28 and is connected to the pipe or conduit 29 by the elbow or connection member 36 extending through the arm 28, the condenser assembly 13 being further connected with the pipe or conduit 3|, which extends through the arm 21, by the connection member 32.

The pipe or conduit 29 extends through the side wall portion of the base assembly A and is connected to the pipe or conduit 33 by the elbow 34 and the shut off valve assembly 35, the pipe or conduit 33 being connected to the pipe or conduit 36 by the three way connection 31 to which is connected the nipple or connection member 38 for connecting with a hose or similar conduit 39. The pipe or conduit 22, after extending through the eye portion 26 of one of the brackets 8, extends downwardly, as at 46, to pass through the side wall portion of the base assembly A to connect with the elbow 4| and the shut ofi valve assembly 42 and also the pipe or conduit 3B.

The condenser assembly B is further connected with the three way connection 43 by the pipe or conduit 44, the three way connection 43 being connected to the pipe or conduits 45 and 46, the pipe or conduit 46 connecting with the elbow 41 which in turn connects with a suitable nipple or connection member extending through the side wall of the base assembly A to connect with the hose 48 which is connected with a supply of steam under pressure.

The pipe or conduit 45 connects with the shut 01f valve assembly 49 which connects with the pipe or conduit 56 connected with the three way connection 5|.

The three way connection 5| is connected with the shut off valve assembly 52 by the pipe or conduit 53 and with the shut off valve assembly 54 by the pipe or conduit 55, the shut off valve assembly 54 being connected with the three way connection 56, by the pipe or conduit 51, the shut off valve assembly 52 being connected with the pipe or conduit 2|.

The shut ofi valve assemblies 35, 42, 49, 52 and 54 are each provided with a control handle 58, the handles 58 of the shut oil valve assemblies 49, 52 and 54 being positioned on the outside of the wall portion of the base assembly A while the shut ofi valve portions are located on the inside of the base assembly A.

' The pipes or conduits 2| and 22 are connected with the three way connection 59 which is located substantially at the center of the base assembly A and the steamer mechanism, the three way connection 59 being further connected with the pipe or conduit 66.

'Also the elbow 6| is connected with the pipe or conduit 62 connecting with the three way connection 56, the elbow 6| being connected with the pipe or conduit 63 on the end of which is suitably mounted the nozzle housing 64 and secured by the nut 65, the nozzle housing 64 being provided with a chamber 66 into which steam is conducted through the pipe or conduit 63 as more fully disclosed hereinafter, the outer wall 68 of the chamber 66 being formed with a convex shape to substantially conform with the conical or bee hive shape of the cover or upper screen member 61, the outer wall 68 being provided with a multiplicity of relatively small outlets, openings or apertures 11, a portion only of which are shown, through which the steam issues or flows. The chamber 66 is relatively narrow in cross section and has its inside wall conforming in shape to that of the outer wall 68 and the screen member 61. The nozzle housing 64 is thus provided with an annular construction having the opening 69 through which extends the pipe or conduit 66.

The pipe or conduit 66 extends upwardly through the opening 19 in the upper portion of the screen 61 and is connected to the three way connection 16 which is connected with the shut ofif valve assembly 1| by the pipe or conduit 12, the shut off valve assembly 1| being connected with the pipe or conduit 13 which supports the nozzle housing 14, the nozzle housing 14 being connected to and supported on the pipe or conduit 13 by the connection member 15 which is threadably connected to the nozzle housing 14 and the pipe or conduit 13 to permit the nozzle housing 14 to be readily installed thereon or removed therefrom.

The nozzle housing 14 is of relatively narrow width or vertical cross section when viewed, as in Fig. 2, but has a fan like shape or outline in the plan view as may be noted from Fig. 7, which discloses a second nozzle housing 16 similar to 14, the second nozzle housing 16 being utilized in connection with the hose 39 for operations in which a nozzle housing has to be moved to different positions or local applications of the steamer means on a garment or similar object as more fully disclosed hereinafter.

The second nozzle housing 16 is also provided with a connection member 15 for connecting it with the hose 39, the nozzle housings 14 and 16 being also each provided with a nut member 86 securely connected with or forming an integral portion of the nozzle housing to enable it to be readily removed by a wrench or similar tool.

The nozzle housings 14 and 16 are also each provided with a plurality of relatively small cutlets, openings or apertures 18 arranged in a row extending substantially in a horizontal plane as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7.

Also the nozzle housings 14 and 16 are each provided with a chamber 8| through which the steam passes to the outlets 18, the steam issuing from the convex face or surface 82.

The three way connection 16 is connected with the pipe or conduit 83 which is connected with the shut-off valve assembly 84 which in turn isconnected with the pipe or conduit 85 at the upper end of which is connected and supported the nozzle housing 86 constructed with a conical or bee-hive shape terminating at the apex or point 81, the nozzle housing 86 being provided with the chamber 88 through which the steam passes to the relatively small outlets, openings or apertures 89 arranged in formations extending around and over the outside conical surface 99.

The screen member 61 forms a perforated wall or mesh portion for the upper part-of the steamer mechanism and is provided with a reinforcing edge member 9! atits lower side for entering the grooves or notches 92 formed in the upper ends of the channel members I9, the grooves or notches 92 being suitably curved at their edges and bottom to facilitate entry and centralizing of the screen member 61, the grooves or notches 92 thus supporting the screen member 9I in its operative position and permitting it to be readily removed by lifting it off to facilitate access to the mechanism therein and in the base assembly A.

The screen member Si is provided with an annular reinforcing or edge member 93 extending around the opening I9. Also the screen member 61 is provided with a plurality of clip members 94 arranged around the outside of the screen member 61 in suitable numbers and locations, the clip members each being provided with a hook portion 95 adapted to be inserted through the mesh of the screen member 61 to secure the clip member thereinto, the clip members 99 each being provided with a flange portion 96 lying adjacent the screen member I51 and extended and folded to form the flange portion 9] which is provided with an outwardly curved end together with resilient characteristics to cause it to normally engage the flange portion 96 andyet to enable it to be sprung away from the flange portion 99 to permit a garment or similar object to be inserted therebetween whereupon the garment or similar object will be clamped and retained therein as indicated by the fragmental representation of the garment or similarobject 98, in Fig. 2.

' In a similar manner, the clip members 99, Fig. 5, are provided with resilient flanges or portions I99 normally engaging one another and provided with spreading ends I9I to facilitate the entry of a garment or similar object I92 therebetween, when the flanges I399 are spread further apart whereupon the resiliency of the flanges I99 will clamp and retain the garment therein. The clip members 99 are each provided with an enlarged portion I 93 to facilitate its resiliency, and having its wall portions extended to form the eye portion I94 having oppositely disposed wall portions connected at their outer end portions and provided with-openings I95 and I99 therein for receiving a lever or arm 25 of one of the brackets I! therethrough, the openings I95 and I99 being misaligned to enable the upper edge portion of one of the openings, as for instance I95, to engage and abut the outer surface of one of the teeth or ratchets I 97 while the lower edge portion of the opening I96 engages the bottom edge surface of the lever or arm 25, the upwardly and inwardly pull of the garment I92 tending to maintain the upper edge portion of the opening I95 against said tooth or ratchet to prevent the clip member from moving inwardly on the lever or arm 25, thus maintaining the garment I92 in a taut or tight position, and at the same time permitting the clip member 99 to be tilted to the. right, as indicated by the dotted lines I98, Fig. 5,

to enable the clip member 99 to be readily and quickly moved by the operator outwardly along the lever or arm 25 until it will accommodate the size or spread of thegarment 192, whereupon the clip member 99 may be tilted and returned to is initial position for properly retaining the selected garment, thus providing .adjustably mounted clip means for accommodating-gar ments of various sizes and shapes; 1 1 I Also the levers orarms 25 are provided with the stop or cam portions I99 which are=adapted to engage the brackets I1 when thelever or arms 25 have been pivotally moved to their properoperating positions in planes extending upwardly and outwardly from the sides of the base assembly A, as disclosed in Fig; 5, the stop or cam.

portions I99 preventing further upward pivotal movement even when the garment 'I92 i's exert' ing a pull thereon, the shape of the stop or cam portions I99 being such, however, that they will pivotally move downwardly, by the force of gravity to the positions disclosed in Fig. -2 when the clip members 99 have been'removed-from engagement therewith. 3

It is now to be noted that a garment maybe readily placed and secured over the 'steamer' provided with a conventional switch mechanisminside or outside of the steam mechanism for'controlling its operation. I The electric motor III is provided fit into the notches or grooves II in the hooked arms H5 of the bracket IE6 whichis provided" with the arms II9 having the downwardly extending portions I I! adapted to extend withinv one of the channel members I9 and be retained therein behind suitable flange portions "I I8" formed by s'ecurement to or by extension of -the side walls of the channel members I9 as indicatedby dotted lines Fig. 1 and 4 and by full lines,

Fig.3. vIt will be readily noted that with removal ofthe screen member 67, the electric motor I I I may":

be lifted upwardly from the-notchesor grooves IM and the bracket I It may be lifted upwardly and out of the channelmember I9 whichiit engages, thus providing ready disasse'mbly and yet rigid mounting for the electric motor III;

The operation of the fan I I9 will draw air into I the base assembly A through the perforations of v I with oppositely disposed studs I I3 which are adapted to' the screen member I4 and will force orblow it,v I

upwardly and outwardly through the perforations of the screen member 61 against. and

through the garments or similar objects being finished.

Also to facilitate the drying operation, the

. V 60 element of similar characteristics, is mounted,

electric grid or heater element I29, or heating within the base assembly A and adjacent the screen member I4 so that air-will be drawn; through the screen member I9 and through theheating element I29 by the fan I I9 and blown" or similar upwardly thereby tothe garment object.

The heatingelement trio current therethrough and may be constructed in sections or as a sole-unit ekten'ding partially or totally around the inside of the base assembly A, a section only of the heating element I29 being disclosed in Fig. 3, the' heating element" 129 being suitably supported by brackets-I2! and I29 comprises suita ble wire construction for the conduction-of an elec-' I22 or similar means secured to the channel members Ill or similar portions of the steamer mechanism. A connection by cable I23 or similar means may be made to a switch means I24 on the outside of the steamer mechanism to facilitate control by the operator.

It is to be noted that in finishing garments, fabrics, or similar objects after they have been cleaned by steam cleaning, washing, or by chemicals or similar means or materials to remove dirt, stains, discolorations and similar objectionable characteristics, the garments, fabrics or similar objects must be stretched and submitted to a steaming application to remove all wrinkles therefrom and this is especially so where the material is velvet or similar material and it is impossible to accomplish this by conventional ironing operations because many garments are provided with a multiplicity of ruiTles, pleats, or similar constructions and the most economical way to accomplish this is by steaming, in some instances a slight operation of touching up certain portions of the garment being resorted to in an ironing operation. However, the practical and economical method of performing such finishing operations in the main is to apply steam to said garments, fabrics or similar objects, and my steamer mechanism renders an economical application of dry or Wet steam to all portions of said objects in an economical and eificient manner.

In operation, the garment, fabric or similar object is supported over and around the steamer mechanism as disclosed in Fig. 8, in which a dress or gown I25 is supported by a hanger member I26 supported by its hook I2I from a hook member I28 connected with a ceiling I29 or similar structure, the lower edge portions of the dress or gown I25 being gripped by the clip members 99 which may be adjusted along the levers or arms 25 to properly stretch and hold taut the dress or gown I25.

If a shorter dress or gown is being finished then the edge portions thereof may be clamped and secured in any of the various clip members 94.

Then with the dress or gown stretched in place over the steamer mechanism, steam is allowed to enter through the hose 48, the pipes 46, 45, 50, 55, 62 and 63 to the nozzle housing 64, from where it will issue in a spray through the outlets TI thereof on to and through the dress or gown I25 as indicated by the diagrammatic lines I30, Fig. 8, this operation being accomplished with the shut off valve assemblies 49 and 54 being open and the shut off assembly 52 being closed.

If the shut off assembly 52 is also opened, the steam will also flow through the pipes 53, 2|, 6D and 83 and to the nozzle housing 86 from where it will issue in a spray through the outlets 89 thereof on to the upper portion of the dress or gown I25 as indicated by the diagrammatic lines I3I, Fig. 8, this operation being accomplished with the shut off valve assembly 84 also being open and with the shut off valve assembly II being closed.

The nozzle housing I4 may be rotatably supported relative to the axes of the pipes 60 and 83 to permit it to be positioned as desired and if stationary it may be used for steaming portions of the dress or gown I25 by moving it around and adjacent the outlets I8 thereof after the dress or gown I25 has been removed from its position on the steamer mechanism, as disclosed in Fig. 8,

the nozzle housing I4 thus being utilized for touching up operations.

Also by closing the shut off valve assemblies "II and 84 and by opening the shut off valve assembly 42, the steam is controlled to flow through the pipes 22 and 36 to the hose 39 and to the nozzle housing I6, Fig. '7, for use in applications requiring mobility of the appliance mechanism, this being accomplished with the shut off valve assembly 35 being closed.

The above operations have been disclosed as utilizing what is conventionally known as dry steam and when it is desired to apply what is conventionally known as wet steam, wet steam being especially beneficial with certain garments or fabrics as for instance rayon objects which have been discolored by rain drops or similar stains, wet steam being heavily saturated with water, the steam is controlled to pass through the condenser assembly B which is provided with conventional means for mixing water with the steam to saturate it and to form wet steam, this being accomplished by closing the shut off valve assembly 49 and causing the steam to pass through the condenser assembly B and out through the pipe 3| to the three way connection 56 and then as desired to the various nozzle outlets as above disclosed. It is to be noted that the steam issuing from the nozzle housings 64 and 86 will overlap, as at I33, Fig. 8, thus providing means for steaming the total dress or gown I25, the diagrammatic lines I34 being disclosed in Fig. 8 to illustrate the spray operation of the nozzle housing I4.

After the dress or gown I25 has been steamed to finish and remove wrinkles therefrom, the fan I I0 is operatively started by switching on electric current to the electric motor IIi, the fan IID drawing in air through the screen member I4 and blowing it upwardly and outwardly to dry the dress or gown I25 and when it is desired to accelerate the drying operation, electric current is controlled, by the switch means I24, to flow through and heat the heating element I29 which will quickly heat the flow of air flowing in through the screen member I4.

I claim:

1. In a steamer mechanism for finishing a garment or similar object, the combination of a base assembly, a screen member mounted on said base assembly, arms pivotally mounted on said base assembly, said arms each being provided with a stop portion adapted to engage a fixed portion of said base assembly to limit the pivotal movement of said arm in one direction, each of said arms being provided with ratchet teeth, clip members mounted on said arms and adapted to clamp said garment or similar object over said screen member, each of said clip members being provided with an opening surrounding an arm together with its ratchet teeth, said opening being shaped to permit an edge of said opening to engage a ratchet tooth to prevent movement of said clip member towards said base assembly, said opening being further shaped to permit said clip member to be tilted from its normal position and to free said edge from engagement with said ratchet tooth and to enable said clip member to be adjustably moved along said arm away from said base assembly, and a spray nozzle member mounted within said screen member and connected with a supply of steam.

2. In a steamer mechanism for a garment or similar object, the combination of a base assembly provided with a screen member therearound,

oil.

a second screen member of hemispheroidal shape having the portion of its largest circle attached to said base assembly, a nozzle comprising a hemispheroidal housing mounted within the second screen with its center of curvature substantially coincident with the center of curvature of said second screen and having a multiplicity of outlet apertures directed radially with respect thereto and with respect to the second screen, and means for guiding a flow of steam to said nozzle housing.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a base assembly composed of top and bottom rings supported in vertically spaced relation by circumferentially spaced uprights, a screen between said rings and uprights, a second screen of hemispheroidal shape having the portion of its greatest circle attached to the upper ring, brackets extending inwardly from said uprights, a hemispheroidal spray housing having a multiplicity of radial apertures, and steam conveying tubing supported by said brackets and supporting said spray housing with its center of curvature substantially coincident with the center of curvature of said second screen.

4. In a steamer mechanism for a garment or similar object, the combination of a base assembly provided with a screen member therearound, a second screen member of hemispheroidal shape having the portion of its largest circle attached to said base assembly, a nozzle comprising a hemispheroidal housing mounted within the second screen with its center of curvature substantially coincidentwith the center of curvature of said second screen and having a multiplicity of outlet apertures directed radially with respect thereto and with respect to the second screen, means for guiding a flow of steam to said nozzle housing, and means in said base member for receiving a removable fan, said means being adapted to support the fan centrally of the base assembly and directed upwardly.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a base assembly composed of top and bottom rings supported in vertically spaced relation by circumferentially spaced uprights, a screen between said rings and uprights, a second screen of hemispheroidal shape having the portion of its greatest circle attached to the upper ring, brackets extending inwardly from said uprights, a hemispheroidal spray housing having a multiplicity of radial apertures, steam conveying tubing supported by said brackets and supporting said spray housing with its center of curvature substantially coincident with the center of curvature of said second screen, and means in said base member for receiving a removable fan, said means being adapted to sup-port the fan centrally of the base assembly and directed upwardly.

6. In a steamer mechanism for a garment or similar object, the combination of a base assembly provided with a screen member therearound, a second screen member of hemispheroidal shape having the portion of its largest circle attached to said base assembly, anozzle comprising a hemispheroidal housing mounted within the second screen with its center of curvature substantially coincident with the center of curvature of said second screen and having a multiplicity of outlet apertures directed radially with respect thereto and with respect to the second screen, and means for guilding a flow of steam to said nozzle housing, said second screen and said nozzle each having a central opening therethrough, a steam pipe extending vertically through said openings, and a spray head supported above said second screen by said steam pipe.

7. In a steamer mechanism for finishing a garment or similar object, the combination of a base assembly, a screen member mounted on said base assembly, sets ,0]? clip means mounted on said screen member at varying heights for holding said garment or similar object, and a spray nozzle mounted within said screen member and connected to a supply of steam, said spray nozzle being round in horizontal cross-section and arcuate in vertical cross section and having a multiplicity of openings through the surface thereof whereby to eject a steam spray ian shaped in any vertical section, said screen having a shape substantially similar to the spray nozzle and being spaced from said nozzle substantially uniformly along all lines radial of the nozzle.

CHARLES PUNGOR. 

